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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2003
PR- 059-03
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF FREDERICK
A. O. SCHWARZ, JR. AS CHAIR OF CITY’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment of Frederick “Fritz” A. O. Schwarz, Jr. as the Chair of the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB). The Campaign Finance Board was established in 1988 as an independent, non-partisan City agency. It has three primary mandates: administering the Campaign Finance Program, publishing the “Voter Guide,” and overseeing the Candidate Debate Program. The CFB is composed of five board members: two are appointed by the Mayor; two are appointed by the Speaker of the City Council; one, the chairman, is appointed by the Mayor after consultation with the Speaker. The Board is strictly non-partisan, and by law the Mayor's and the speaker's two appointees must come from different political parties. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms.  Mr. Schwarz’s term begins April 1st and he succeeds former Fordham University President Father O’Hare who served as Chair since the Boards inception.

“Fritz Schwarz is once again going to devote himself to the service of this great City,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “His breadth of experience is matched only by his commitment to New York City.  Fritz has worked on some of New York’s and this Country’s most challenging issues and as much as any one is responsible for the current structure of our City government.  I know everyone will agree that he will be a superb chair of the Campaign Finance Board.  I also want to thank Father O’Hare for his leadership and tireless devotion to the CFB throughout his tenure as Chair.”

“It is a great honor to once again serve my City in this important role,” said Chairman Schwarz. “New York City’s campaign Finance System is a model for the rest of the nation. Under the leadership of Father O’Hare and Executive Director Nicole Gordon it has established an exemplary record and I hope to be able to contribute to the continuation of that legacy.”

Frederick A. O. Schwarz, Jr. joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1963, became partner in 1969 and became Senior Counsel in 2002.  He left the firm twice to enter public service, first as the Chief Counsel to the Select Committee to Study Government Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activity in (1975-1976) and then to serve as Corporation Counsel for the City of New York under Mayor Edward I. Koch (1982-1986).  In 1989, he chaired the Charter Commission that reshaped New York City government, eliminating the Board of Estimate, transforming the City Council and empowering the Mayor.  He is now the Interim President and Senior Counsel to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School. Mr. Schwarz graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and received a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.  He is married to Columbia School of Public Health Professor Frederica Perera and has three children, all of whom work in the public interest.


 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz 
(212) 788-2958